Published 9:35 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009

STAMFORD -- A proposed housing development in Westover near a congested traffic intersection has sparked criticism of the city traffic department's inconclusive report to the Zoning Board, which is reviewing the plan.

Stamford's housing authority, Charter Oak Communities, is proposing to build 85 units of mixed-income housing at 26 Palmers Hill. But residents have complained that the development, known as Palmer Square, would worsen traffic at a congested and unsafe intersection between Palmers Hill and Westover roads.

Both are often used as cut-through roads -- Palmers Hill goes to Greenwich, while Westover leads to the Merritt Parkway.

The city, while acknowledging the traffic problems, has failed to come up with any near-term solution.

In a report issued Monday, the Office of Operations recommended that a comprehensive traffic study be a condition for final site plan approval of the Palmer Square project. The project is being considered for general site plan, or preliminary, approval. The board later is to vote on final site plan approval prior to construction.

Kapiloff sat Monday night before a group of about 30 visibly discontented Westover residents who have been pressuring the board to address traffic problems. Many have requested a traffic study before board approval of the project.

Kapiloff threatened to delay the board's decision, saying, "If the city's not going to move on this, then this is not our fault, it's the city's fault."

The Zoning Board routinely takes the city's traffic recommendations into account, but members have often complained of difficulties in understanding the reports submitted by city traffic engineers. At hearings, developers often argue against the city's concerns by presenting their own competing traffic studies.

"Why can't we order the traffic department to be at our meetings?" asked board member Harry Parson, who has been most vocal about the issue.

Director of Operations Ben Barnes said members of his department attend several evening meetings each week. He said he was unaware of the board's request to have a traffic engineer present at its hearings.

While he said he would consider ways of improving communication with the board, he said, "I'd have to make sure there is value added to having someone there."

Regarding the Palmer Square project, he said that his staff had not had enough time to "resolve all the questions" regarding the development's effect on traffic. The application, he said, arrived on their desks in late June.

But the department did not recommend the board delay approval of the project, Barnes said, because he did not believe that the development would worsen conditions at the intersection.

Representatives for Palmer Square have argued that its plans to put a driveway on Connecticut Avenue would direct traffic away from the intersection at Palmers Hill.

They have also said that the housing complex would generate fewer vehicles than a rehabilitation center previously operating at the site.

"We don't dispute that," Barnes said. He later added, "One of the things we'd like to do is take this opportunity to improve traffic conditions there."

Asked about the issue on Thursday, Kapiloff said, "There seems to be a lot of controversy about traffic. I think it would be helpful to the board and the public if the professionals could come and speak about the traffic issues."

The Zoning Board is expected to deliberate on the Palmer Square project on Monday.

Staff Writer Elizabeth Kim can be reached at elizabeth.kim@scni.com or 964-2265.